Car crash leaves mother dead; 7-year-old stays by her side for 12 hours, officials say
A 7-year-old boy stayed by his mother's side for almost 12 hours after they were involved in a car crash on a California highway in which the mother died over the weekend, authorities say.
The two were returning to their home in Tollhouse from a friend's house Saturday night when the mother lost control of the vehicle and it swerved off Highway 168 in Auberry, according to reports from ABC 30 and the Los Angeles Times, citing California Highway Patrol (CHP).
The vehicle, a Subaru Crosstrek, was later found nearly 200 feet off an embankment after it rolled over multiple times, CHP said in a news release.
"It was basically sitting in a grove of trees, covered, and not visible from the highway," CHP officer John Marsh told ABC 30.
Authorities said the woman and her son were both thrown from the car. While the mother died in the accident, the boy survived and stayed by her side for roughly 12 hours before he was spotted walking alone on a mountain road, the news release said.
"We got a call of a child walking on the four-lane section of the 168 and the parties who found the child basically walked down to where the crash had happened," Marsh said, according to ABC 30.
Lookout alert issued
CHP had been looking for the mother and son after they did not return home as expected and were still missing Sunday morning, as per the news release. A lookout alert was issued, and the boy was spotted before noon walking along the shoulder of the highway where the crash took place.
7-year-old treated for injuries
The 7-year-old was taken to local hospital, where he was treated for "moderate to major injuries," and reunited with his father, CHP said.
CHP said the cause of the crash is still under investigation and that the agency is waiting for the toxicology report to determine if alcohol or drugs were a factor.
"It appears neither the driver nor the child was wearing seatbelts during the crash," the news release said. "It remains unclear whether the driver was ejected from the vehicle or exited it after the crash occurred."
The victim was identified as 30-year-old Bailie French, of Yokuts Valley, the Fresno County Coroner’s Office told Paste BN.
Saman Shafiq is a trending news reporter for Paste BN. Reach her at sshafiq@gannett.com and follow her on X and Instagram @saman_shafiq.